In 2050, there will be 3 billion more humans on earth than there are now. And 80% will live in cities. What does that mean? Basically, there will be more mouths to feed and less space to grow food. That's why architects are planning vertical farms tucked into the textured walls of skyscrapers.

Still in the proposal stage from Columbia University environmentalists, these buildings could become urban farmhouses, many stories high, that would yield organic crops year-round. Sheltered by massive walls, these farms will be protected from most weather, pests, and communicable plant diseases that plague their outdoor counterparts. They will, however, be more vulnerable to attacks by pod people, terrorists, and Godzilla. Images by Atelier Soa Architectes